Fence



No Model.)

' J. N. YOUNG.

FENCE.

Patented July 7, 1896 WITNESSES ATTORNEYS.

m: Nonms P'ETERS co, Pnoruurna, WASHINGTON n. cy

on the line 3 3 in Fig. 1.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES NICHOLAS YOUNG, OF PARMA, MICHIGAN.

FENCE.

'SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 563,539, dated July 7,1896.

Application filed December 18,1895. Serial No. 572,547. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES NICHOLAS YOUNG, of Parma, in the county ofJackson and State of Michigan, have invented certain .new and usefulImprovements in Fences, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact pickets that may be readily placed on and secured to thefence-wires, and which has posts formed of angular bent plate metal, sothat the entire fence is very durable and adapted for production atmoderate cost.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts, asis hereinafter described, and indicated in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of the improved fence. Fig. 2is a transverse partly-sectional view of a portion of the fence, showingpart of an intermediate or line post of the fence, fence-wires thereon,and they brace for said post, the section being taken on line 2 2 inFig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View of a corner or end post ofa fence-line and of its brace,taken substantially Fig. at is apartlysectional plan view of a line-post and its brace essentially onthe line 44in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an edge view of the lower portion of aline-post brace, seen in direction of arrow 5 in Fig. 2, showing amodified base-block for the line-post and said brace. Fig. 6 is atransverse sectional View of a fence-picket, showing its boltedconnection to a fence linewire, taken essentially on line (i 6 in Fig.8. Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view of the line-post shown in Fig.1 on the line 7 7 in said figure, showing one means for connectin gfence-wires thereto. Fig. 8 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional viewof fence-pickets, showing preferred means for attaching the pickets tothe fence-wires, the line of section being indicatedat 8 8 in Figs. 1and 9. Fig. 9 is a side view 'ofthe portion of a fencepicket andfence-wires thereon, seen in directionof arrow 9 in Fig. 8. Fig. 10 isan enlarged plan view of a tension device for one of the fence-wires.Fig. 11 is a transverse partlysectional view of the device shown in Fig.10 substantially on the line 11 11 in said figure, and Fig. 12 is atransverse sectional view of the tension device essentially on the line12 12 in Fig. 10.

In the drawings, 10 indicates a corner-post for the improved fence, 11is an intermediate post, and 12 are the fence-wires. The corner-post 10,which may alsoserve as the support for a gate to be placed in a line ofthe improved fence, is formed of plate metal and is angular incross-section, as shown in Fig. 3. Preferably the post 10 is furnishedwith an anchor-plate 10, which is formed or secured on its foot so as toproject laterally therefrom, as represented in Fig. 1.

To maintain the post 10 erect, it is preferably embedded in thepost-hole filling a, that is of concrete or a like composition of cementand other material, and the post is also sustained by the plate-metalangularly-bent brace-piece 13, which has its upper end securedon thepost and thence projects diagonally toward a base-block 14, which ispreferably embedded in the ground, and the brace-piece has a flangedfoot that is secured on the base-block by bolts orother means. There isa stay-rod 10 extended between the post 10 and brace 13, near thefoot'of the brace, said rod being preferably in the form of a bolthaving a head on one end'and anut on the opposite threaded end, so thatthe stay-rodmay be inserted through perforations in flanged members ofthe post and .brace, and be drawn tightly in place by an adjustment ofitsnut. p

It will be seen that the series of fence-wires 12 have one end of eachwire attached to a flanged member of the angular post 10, and

thence are extended a suitable length for the formation of afence-panel, and it is to be understood that at the end of a fence-panelof any desired length the remaining ends of the wires 12 are attached toanother cornerpost 10.

The disposition of the braces 13 on the corner-posts 10 for a fence-lineis such as will render their side portions that are adjacent to thefence-wires 12 parallel therewith, and the braces are adapted tocounteract the strain imposed on the corner-posts by weight of the fencewires and pickets that may be hung 011 the latter. The posts 11, whichare to be erected at suitable intervals along the line of the fencebetween the corner-posts 10 i for the support of the fence-Wires 12, are

formed angular in cross-section of plate metal, and preferably havetheir integral wings or side walls spread or diverged at less than aright angle, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. The line-posts 11, as theseparts are designated to distinguish them from the cornerposts 10, areeach furnished with a flanged foot I), bent from the body of the post ata right angle thereto, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and to add strengththe corner where the foot-flange is turned from the post is curved.

A plate-metal brace-piece 1 5,that is angular in cross-section, isprovided for each line-post 11, and at the lower end of each of saidbraces an singularly-bent foot -flange 0 is formed thereon. The upperend of the brace 15 has its sides flattened to render them substantiallyparallel with each other, and so spaced apart that one end of alocking-key (1 may be introduced between the said parallel walls and betherein secured by a transverse bolt e, which passes through alinedperforations in the post and locking-key.

The preferred construction for the locking key 61 is clearly shown inFig. 4, and consists of a key-body formed of a strip which is folded atits longitudinal center, so as to produce two closelyimpinged keymembers.

The split key 62 has an angular metallic fillingblock 9 cast thereon,occupying such a position that the ends of the key members are permittedto project therefrom at the vertex of the angular block, the form of thelatter adapting it to neatly fit within the space between the divergentwalls of the post-body.

At a proper point the post 11 is longitudinally slotted in its angularcorner of a size that will permit the free passage through the post ofthe split key (1, and as the said key is made of pliable metal the upperend portion of the brace 15 may be removably secured to i the body ofthe post by clenching the ends of the key (1, said ends being oppositelybent to clench them, as clearly shown in Fig. 4,the bolted connection ofthe key permitting its removal from the brace 15. The point ofattachment for the brace 15 on the post is so arranged with regard tothe length of the said brace and its degree of divergence from theline-post 11 that the foot-flanges b and '0 will lie in substantiallythe same plane, so that the parts 11 15 may be mounted on a baseblock 16and be thereto secured by spikes or screw-bolts, the latter-mentionedmeans of attachment being shown in the drawings.

The line-posts of a fence having the improvements are disposed atintervals of separation so that their angular corners will extend in thesame direction, and if the fence is straight said corners will lie inthe same vertical plane. The base-blocks 16 project laterally from thefence-line in the same direction, so that the braces 15 will all bedisposed on the same side of the fence-line.

There may be difierent materials used in the production of thebase-blocks l t and 16, whereon the braces of the corner-posts 10 andline-posts 11 are seated and secured-as, for example, the blocks 14 maybe and preferably are made of stone, but wood may also be used, and withregard to the blocks 16 these may be formed from wood or be billets ofiron, such as pieces of I-beam material of suitable length, such abase-block being indicated in Fig. 5 at 16.

. In erecting the fence the line-posts and their braces, together withthe base-blocks these parts are seated upon, are usually embedded in theground sufficiently to locate the baseblocks below the frost line, whichwill insure the stability of the fence. When the fence is extended overa low point or hollow in the surface of the ground, the base-blocks 16may be correspondingly raised if it is desired to maintain the tops ofthe fence-posts in or near the same plane.

The fence-wires 12 are spaced ap'art anypreferred degree and extendacross the angular corners of the line-posts 11 and are thereto secured,preferably by the means shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 7, consisting of wireloops h, which are each provided with two limbs having hooks on theirends, these limbs extending from an integral ring-eye that is of adiameter which will adapt it "to embrace the fence-wire it is tosupport. At points opposite each fence-wire oblong slots are formed inthe line-posts 11 of such dimensions as will permit the limbs of thekeeper-loops 72 to pass through said slots, so that the eye of each loopmay be sprung over the fence-wire 11 and the limbs of the keeper-loop bediverged, so that their hooked ends may have engagement with the edgesof the angular line-post, as clearly shown in Fig. 7.

It Will be evident that as all the line-wires 12 of a fence are heldspaced apart on the line-posts 11 by the keeper-loops h, as has beenexplained, the said fence-wires will be maintained in place, free tolengthen and shorten under influence of heat and cold. To compensate forexpansion and contraction of the fence-wires due to climatic changes, atension device has been provided to be attached to each fence-Wire.These each con sist of a spiral-spring coil 5, mounted on two elongatedcoupling-loops 70, that have threads on the ends of their limbs.

The washer-plates m are furnished for each tension device, and the saidpreferably-circular fiat plates have each four evenly-spacedperforations formed therein to loosely receive the threaded ends orlimbs of the couplingloops k. The washer-plates separately have contactwith the ends of the spiral coil 2', and the loops is, which have theirlimbs inserted through the coil in opposite directions, are secured inplace by nuts screwed on the projecting ends of said limbs, so as tobear against the washer-plates, and project their looped portions fromthe latter through central slots of the said washer-plates, thisconstructionof parts beingshown in Figs. 10 and Each tension device isintroduced at a preferred point in the fence-wire it engages with, andfor the sake of uniformity in appearance the tension appliances arearranged one above the other, as represented in Fig. 1. To connect eachtension device with a fencewire, the latter is severed, and the severedends are joined to the bights of the couplingloops 7c.

Preferably one end of each wire 12 is adjustably connected with thecoupling-piece k by means of a clamping-block 'n, the construction ofwhich is shown in Figs. 10 and 12, it consisting of a perforated metalblock, preferably cylindric in form and provided with a set-screw 0. Theremaining end portion of the line-wire 12, when it is to be attached tocoupling-loop k by means of the clampingblock 97., is first passedthrough the bight of said coupling-loop and then drawn upon to stretchthe line-wire and put it under tension by partly compressing thespring-coil i. The said end portion of the line-wire is then folded uponitself and inserted through the clamping-block that has previously beenstrung on the line-wire. It is evident that if the setscrew 0 is nowadjusted to bind on the folded portions of the wire 11 which occupy theclamping-block, a secure but removable connect-ion of the tension devicewith the fencewire 11 will result, and the same is true with regard toall the fence-wires that are in a like manner attached to theirrespective tensio devices.

It is contemplated in some cases to provide pickets for the improvedwire fence, and when these are to be attached to the fencewiresprovision is made to afford space for the introduction of the picketsbetween the fencewires and the corner-post braces 13. To this end athick washer 19 is introduced between the top of the brace 13 and post10, as shown in Fig. 3, and the bolt g, which secures the brace on thepost, passes through said washer, which will so laterally remove thebrace from the wing of the corner-post it is secured upon as to affordample space for the reception of pickets between the wire and brace, asindicated in Fig. 1. The pickets 17 are preferably formed of light,strong wooden strips proportioned in length and other dimensions to suitthe fence they form a part of, and the said pickets are secured inspaced order on the fence-wires, upright and preferably parallel withthe posts of the fence, as represented in Fig. 1.

In Figs. 6, 8, and 9 the means for attaching the pickets to thefence-wires are clearly shown, comprising the hook-headed bolts 0", thatare three in number for each picket, these being individually locatednear the top, bottom, and middle of the picket, passing throughperforations therein formed at points which will permit the hooked headsof the bolts to hook upon the adjacent fence-wires, that are held firmlyin contact with the picket by nuts and washers on the threaded ends ofthe bolts.

The pickets 17 are secured on the fencewires, which are not clamped bythe bolts '1', by hooked staples s, a single staple for each wire beingfirst clenched in the picket after passing through the latter, and thenhooked over the fence-wire by means of the project in ghooked head ofthe staple,which head may be closed down upon said wire to secure thepicket firmly thereto. It is feasible to attach the staples and bolts tothe pickets when the latter are manufactured, which will greatlyexpedite the work of erecting a line of fence having the picketsprovided therefor.

I have shown and described hook-headed staples for the attachment ofpickets to the fence-wires, but do not desire to be limited to such aconstruction, as ordinary staples having two limbs may be utilized andeffectively fasten the pickets in place on the wires mentioned.

It will be seen that the improved fence may be produced from metal orother durable materials, that it may be securely erected, thatlongitudinal and lateral strains will not injure said fence, and that itwill, if properly constructed, afford a light, strong, and very neatfence at a moderate cost for erection and incidental repairs.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. In a fence, the combination of an angularly-bentplate-metal line-post, an angularlybent plate-metal brace for said post,the brace having its angularly-divergent walls flattened and spacedparallel at the upper end, and a connection for the brace with the post,the connection comprising a doubled key having two limbs, the folded endof said key being held between the spaced parallel members of the brace,and an angular filling-block on the key, occupying the hollow of thepost, the ends of the limbs of the key passing through a perforation inthe line-post at its angle and folded and clenched thereon,substantially as described.

2. A fence having a post formed of angular metal, a brace for the post,a metallic block fitting snugly within a portion of the hollow of thepost, and a connection passed through the block and attached to the postand brace, substantially as described.

3. A fence having a post formed of angular metal, a block snugly fittedWithin the space inelosed by the members of the post, a connectionattached to the post and passed through the block, and a brace formed ofangular metal and inclining toward the post, the end which is adjacentto the post being flattened and having the connection passed between andsecured to the flattened portion of its members, substantially asdescribed.

JAMES NICHOLAS YOUNG.

Vitn esses:

HENRY IIILLER, OSCAR SMITH.

